Lynch visited with students and families in Kentucky who have lost children to addiction.

"Three-point-eight million Americans ages 12 and up are misusing prescription painkillers -- 3.8 million," Lynch said. "It's a stunning number. What's also stunning is that we're starting at age 12 to track this."

With New Hampshire on the leading edge of the issue, high schoolers in the Granite State already have a keen awareness of the problem.

"I see people all the time, they'll be passed out," Manchester High School West senior Jonathan Croteau said. "It could be for any reason, of course, but that's probably one of the main reasons. It's sad."

Croteau said it's hard for youth to talk to adults about addiction.

"A lot of kids are scared to talk to people nowadays," he said.

The Bedford School District is working with community leaders and police to make sure that children know help is available.

"We know from the youth behavior risk survey that was done a year or so ago that almost 12 percent of the kids talked about the fact that they were approached to purchase drugs at school or on the school campus," Police Chief John Bryfonski said.

"We just yesterday had drug dogs come in and check out the school," Superintendent Chip McGee said. "They found nothing, but that's a helpful message that we've sent."

Earlier this year the district added a second licensed drug and alcohol counselor, and parents launched a new campaign to destigmatize addiction.

"When your child has a drug addiction, the curtains close, and nobody wants to talk about it," said Joy Monfreid of Bedford Building Our Lives Drug Free. "Kids aren't allowed to come over and play and hang out, and we're just trying to just say, 'Listen, this is an illness. This isn't a character flaw.'"

Lynch said she had one simple message for students and young people struggling with addiction: Don't be afraid to ask for help.